What is Conch Video?
Conch Video is the AI video generation service built by MiniMax, a Shanghai AI company. Hailuo means conch in Chinese, so the product appears as Conch AI and as Hailuo AI. Today the site and apps use the Hailuo AI name.
You enter a prompt or image, pick a model, and it renders a short clip. Models moved from video-01 (2024) to Hailuo 02 and 2.3 (2025), and 2026 reviews describe an H3 model. MiniMax listed in Hong Kong in January 2026; three Hollywood studios sued it over copyright in 2025.
Key Features
- Text to video: Conch Video turns a written prompt into a short clip with realistic motion. Reviews report clips of roughly 6 to 10 seconds at 720p to 1080p. Detailed prompts covering subject, action and camera give the most control.
- Image to video: A still image can serve as the first frame, which the model then animates with motion, lighting and camera effects. This keeps a product or character exactly as designed. It suits animating photos, artwork and storyboard frames.
- Subject reference: A reference photo keeps the same person or character consistent across separate clips. The current site calls a wider version of this Omni Reference. It helps creators build a short series without the face changing between shots.
- Camera direction: Prompts can request pans, zooms and tracking shots, and reviews mention a Director Mode for camera control. One review also describes motion paths drawn with the cursor. This gives filmmakers more say over framing than a plain prompt.
- Model choice: Several MiniMax models are available, from faster drafts to higher quality renders. The site now promotes MiniMax H3 for multimodal generation and editing. Choosing a faster model saves credits during early testing.
- Templates and effects: Themed generators such as PetPal, LoveFrame, Style Switch and CineScope produce ready-styled clips. These need little prompt writing. They suit social posts more than professional production.
- Image and audio tools: The platform also generates images and audio alongside video. One review mentions music and voiceover generation from text. This lets creators assemble simple clips without switching to a separate app.
- Mobile apps: iOS and Android apps sit alongside the web version. You can write prompts, render and download clips from a phone. Reviews note that renders often finish in under a minute when queues are short.
Pros
- Lifelike motion: Human and animal movement often looks more natural than in rival generators. Reviews highlight flowing water, fabric and fur as convincing. This makes clips more usable for social content without heavy editing.
- Strong prompt following: Detailed directions about subject, action and camera usually appear in the output. Reviewers credit the model with good natural language understanding. Less trial and error means fewer wasted credits.
- Free starting credits: A free tier lets you test the service before paying. Paid plans are reported from 9.99 US dollars a month. Creators can judge quality on their own prompts before committing to a subscription.
- Several input types: Text, images and subject photos all work as inputs. This covers storyboarding, photo animation and character work in one place. Marketers can reuse existing brand images rather than starting from text.
- Frequent model updates: MiniMax ships new models often, moving from video-01 to Hailuo 02, 2.3 and H3. Each release has aimed at better motion and editing. Users gain improvements without changing tools.
- Multi-platform access: Web, iOS and Android apps share one account, and the MiniMax API serves developers. You can start a clip on a phone and finish it on desktop. Teams can also build the models into their own apps.
Cons
- Short clip length: Each generation lasts only a few seconds, with one review citing 6 seconds on free use and 10 seconds on paid plans. Longer stories need several clips stitched together. Plan an editing step for anything beyond a teaser.
- Watermarks on free clips: One review reports that free plan videos carry a watermark. That limits free output for client or brand work. Removing it means moving to a paid plan.
- Credit drain: High-resolution renders and top models use credits quickly. Higher tiers are reported at up to 199.99 US dollars a month. Heavy users should track credit use per clip before choosing a plan.
- Free tier queues: Free users can wait in long queues at busy times. Paid plans add faster or priority generation. Deadline-driven work is risky on the free tier.
- Limited editing tools: Advanced post-production and detailed audio editing are not built in, according to reviews. You will need a separate editor for cuts, titles and sound mixing. Output can also vary between runs of the same prompt.
- Legal uncertainty: Three Hollywood studios sued MiniMax over copyright in 2025. Commercial users face open questions about training data and output rights. Check the terms and avoid prompts that imitate protected characters.
Who is Using Conch Video?
- Social media creators: Clips for TikTok, Reels and Shorts.
- Marketers: Teams test ad concepts before a shoot.
- Filmmakers: Directors build previs shots quickly.
- Hobbyists: Casual users animate photos for fun.
Pricing
Conch Video is freemium, with a free credit tier and paid monthly plans reported between 9.99 and 199.99 US dollars (third-party pricing trackers, checked October 2026).
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 dollars | Limited credits and slower queue |
| Standard | 9.99 dollars a month (reported) | Monthly credits, faster generation |
| Higher tiers | Up to 199.99 dollars a month (reported) | More credits, priority queue, top models |
Trackers list slightly different plan names and credit counts. Confirm the live figure at checkout, as promotions and regions vary.
What Makes Conch Video Unique?
Lifelike human motion is the clearest reason people choose this service. MiniMax trains its own video models and ships new versions often. The same models power a developer API, so app styles can be repeated at scale.
Compatibilities and Integrations
- Platforms: Web plus iOS and Android apps.
- API: Hailuo models are offered through the MiniMax API.
- Third-party tools: Several creative platforms host Hailuo models.
- Export: Clips download as MP4 files.
Conch Video Tutorials
Your first clip takes only a few minutes.
- Sign up on hailuoai.video or install the Hailuo AI app.
- Choose text or image to video.
- Write a prompt covering subject, action and camera.
- Pick a model, then generate and review.
- Download the MP4 and edit it.
How We Rated It
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy and Reliability | 4.3 | Lifelike motion, occasional artefacts |
| Ease of Use | 4.4 | Simple prompt workflow |
| Functionality and Features | 4.2 | Text, image and reference modes |
| Performance and Speed | 3.6 | Queues on free tier |
| Customization and Flexibility | 3.9 | Camera and model choices |
| Data Privacy and Security | 3.2 | China-based, copyright lawsuit |
| Support and Resources | 3.7 | Guides mostly third-party |
| Cost-Efficiency | 3.9 | Free credits, pricey top tier |
| Integration Capabilities | 4.0 | Apps plus developer API |
| Overall Score | 3.9 | Average of the nine criteria |
Summary
Conch Video suits creators and marketers who want realistic short clips without studio gear. The main limitation is clip length, so longer stories need editing. Spend your free credits on short test prompts before buying a plan.
Reviews
Write a Review